Michael Bloomberg gives $2.5M to Senate Majority PAC

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $2.5 million to a super PAC aimed at helping Senate Democrats maintain their majority, a potentially significant development that could have a big impact in 2014.

Bloomberg, one of the richest men in the world, made the donation to Senate Majority PAC, which is run by former aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and other top Democrats. “It arose out of the close relationship the Mayor has developed with Leader Reid over the years working on issues of concern to New Yorkers like [Hurricane] Sandy relief and gun safety,” said Howard Wolfson, former deputy mayor and a close aide.

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When asked whether this marked the start of such campaign contributions by Bloomberg on behalf of Democrats — or those who back the former mayor’s agenda — Wolfson signaled that the ex-mayor was open to such a possibility. But Wolfson would not confirm that was Bloomberg’s intention, at least at this time.

“Mike Bloomberg has made clear that he will continue to fight for the causes that matter to New Yorkers, even more so now that he isn’t constrained by the mayoralty,” he said.

With a personal fortune estimated at more than than $27 billion, Bloomberg could be one of several wealthy donors who single-handedly alter the financial playing field of the 2014 races. For instance, Charles and David Koch — themselves two of the wealthiest men in the country — have been using the conservative group Americans for Prosperity to run millions of dollars in TV ads bashing incumbent Senate Democrats Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, as well as some House Democrats, over their support for Obamacare. If Bloomberg were to move to counter the Kochs’ financial backing of Senate Republicans, it could reshape this fall’s fight.

Senate Majority PAC will not formally release its next fundraising report until the end of January.

Senate Majority PAC raised just over $3 million during the first half of 2013, with those funds coming from labor unions and wealthy progressive donors like Hollywood titan Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Bloomberg was a strong supporter of the bipartisan proposal by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) for expanded background checks on gun sales in the wake of the December 2012 Newtown, Conn., shooting that left 20 young children dead. Despite Bloomberg’s financial backing — including hiring lobbyists to pressure Republican lawmakers — and President Barack Obama’s call for passage of the legislation, the bill stalled in the face of overwhelming GOP opposition.

Senate Majority PAC has already been up with TV ads this cycle on behalf of Landrieu, Hagan and Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mark Begich of Alaska. The organization ran a radio ad slamming Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the top Democratic target this cycle. And Senate Majority PAC spent more than $1.3 million helping Democrat Ed Markey win the Senate race in Massachusetts to replace John Kerry, now secretary of state.

During 2013, Bloomberg poured $5.6 million of his own money into Independence USA PAC, a super PAC he created the previous year. The organization spent more than $2 million on a House special election to replace the now-imprisoned former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., early last year. Bloomberg was vehemently opposed to the candidacy of Debbie Halvorson for that House seat, and he spent heavily to help defeat her.

Bloomberg also poured more than $1 million into an effort to back Democrat Cory Booker’s successful campaign to replace the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), as well another $1 million in support of Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial campaign.

Bloomberg, who bills himself as an independent, has spent more than $15 million on various gun control initiatives.

However, Independence USA PAC reported only $55,000 cash on hand at the end of the year, raising questions about whether Bloomberg will use this committee — or some other vehicle — for political donations.